{ } n. [ F., a sort of white heron, with a tuft of feathers on its head; a tuft of feathers; dim. of the same word as heron. See Heron, and cf. Egret, Egrette. ] 1. (Zool.) The small white European heron. See Egret. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A plume or tuft for the head composed of feathers, or of gems, etc. Prescott. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A tuft like that of the egret. (Bot.) A feathery crown of seed; egret; as, the aigrette or down of the dandelion or the thistle. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖a. [ It., dim. of allegro. ] (Mus.) Quicker than andante, but not so quick as allegro. -- n. A movement in this time. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. An amoret. [ Obs. ] Rom. of R. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. bareter to exchange. Cf. Barter. ] 1. (Electronics) a resistor inserted into a circuit to compensate for changes (such as those arising from temperature fluctuations); a thermal cymoscope. Syn. -- ballast resistor. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. + WordNet 1.5 ]

☞ The original form consisted of an extremely fine platinum wire loop attached to terminals and inclosed in a small glass or silver bulb. It operates by increased resistance when subjected to the influence of an electric current. In a later variety, called the
liquid barretter, wire is replace by a column of liquid in a very fine capillary tube. A recent version has a resistor composed of an iron wire in a glass bulb containing hydrogen, with the temperature variation of resistance such that the current passing through it remains constant over a wide range of applied voltages. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. + PJC ]

n. Same as Berretta. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ It., fr. LL. birrettum, berretum, a cap, dim. of L. birrus, birrum, a cloak to keep off rain, cf. Gr. &unr_; tawny, red: cf. Sp. birreta, Pg. barrete, and E. Barret. ] A square cap worn by ecclesiastics of the Roman Catholic Church. A cardinal's berretta is scarlet; that worn by other clerics is black, except that a bishop's is lined with green. [ Also spelt beretta, biretta, etc. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Same as Berretta. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Same as Britzska. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Brettices [ OE. bretasce, bretage, parapet, OF. bretesche wooden tower, F. bretèche, LL. breteschia, bertresca, prob. fr. OHG. bret, G. brett board; akin to E. board. See Board, n., and cf. Bartizan. ] The wooden boarding used in supporting the roofs and walls of coal mines. See Brattice. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ F., can, cruet, dim. of buire flagon. ] (Chem.) An apparatus for delivering measured quantities of liquid or for measuring the quantity of liquid or gas received or discharged. It consists essentially of a graduated glass tube, usually furnished with a small aperture and stopcock. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ , n. 1. (Chem.) An apparatus in which coal gas, hydrogen, or air is passed through or over a volatile hydrocarbon, in order to confer or increase illuminating power. [ Written also carburettor. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One that carburets; specif., an apparatus in which air or gas is carbureted, as by passing it through a light petroleum oil. The carburetor for a gasoline engine is usually either a
surface carburetor, or alternatively a
float carburetor (called also
float-feed carburetor, or
spray carburetor). In the former air is charged by being passed over the surface of gasoline. In the latter a fine spray of gasoline is drawn from an atomizing nozzle by a current of air induced by the suction of the engine piston, the supply of gasoline being regulated by a float which actuates a needle valve controlling the outlet of the feed pipe. Alcohol and other volatile inflammable liquids may be used instead of gasoline. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. a genus consisting of the loggerhead turtles.
Syn. -- genus Caretta. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. A kind of dress goods, made with a soft and glossy surface like cashmere. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F., fr. chévre goat, fr. L. capra. Cf. Chevron. ] (Mil.) A machine for raising guns or mortar into their carriages. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ Hind. chirāītā. ] A plant (Agathotes Chirayta) found in Northern India, having medicinal properties to the gentian, and esteemed as a tonic and febrifuge. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. cigarette. ] A little cigar; a little fine tobacco rolled in paper for smoking. [ Also spelled cigaret. ]
Syn. -- cigarette, fag, weed. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ ‖, n. [ F. collerette, dim. of collier. See Collar. ] A small collar; specif., a woman's collar of lace, fur, or other fancy material. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. surgery to remove tissue or growths from a bodily cavity (as the uterus) by scraping with a curette; the act of scraping with a curette.
Syn. -- curettement. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

‖n. [ F., fr. curer to cleanse. ] (Med.) A scoop or ring with either a blunt or a cutting edge, for removing substances from the walls of a cavity, as from the eye, ear, or womb. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Curetted p. pr. & vb. n. Curetting. ] (Med.) To scrape with a curette. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. surgery to remove tissue or growths from a bodily cavity (as the uterus) by scraping with a curette.
Syn. -- curettage. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. Dewrotting; the process of decomposing the gummy matter of flax and hemp and setting the fibrous part, by exposure on a sward to dew, rain, and sunshine. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Aigrette. ] Same as Egret, n., 2. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. a woman working on a farm; a farmeress. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ It. ferretto di Spagna, dim. of ferro iron, fr. L. ferrum. ] Copper sulphide, used to color glass. Hebert. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See 2d Fret. ] (Mining) The worn side of the bank of a river. See 4th Fret, n., 4. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Frit. ] A vitreous compound, used by potters in glazing, consisting of lime, silica, borax, lead, and soda. [ 1913 Webster ]

p. p. & a. [ From 2d Fret. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Rubbed or worn away; chafed. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Agitated; vexed; worried. [ 1913 Webster ]

p. p. & a. [ See 5th Fret. ] 1. Ornamented with fretwork; furnished with frets; variegated; made rough on the surface. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Her.) Interlaced one with another; -- said of charges and ordinaries. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ The old p. p. of fret to rub. ] Rubbed; marked; as, pock-fretten, marked with the smallpox. [ Obs. ] Wright. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who, or that which, frets. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ See 5th Fret. ] Adorned with fretwork. [ 1913 Webster ]

obs. imp. of Greet, to salute. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Her.) Interlaced; linked together; -- said of charges or bearings. See Fretted. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. [ F. lazaret, or It. lazzeretto, fr. Lazarus. See Lazar. ] 1. A public building, hospital, or pesthouse for the reception of diseased persons, particularly those affected with contagious diseases. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Naut.) (Pronounced by seamen A low space under the after part of the main deck, used as a storeroom. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

{ , n. [ Leather + et, F. -ette. ] A material made in imitation of leather, made of paper and cloth. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who makes a libretto. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. E. Librettos It. Libretti [ It., dim. of libro book, L. liber. See Libel. ] (Mus.) (a) A book containing the words of an opera or extended piece of music. (b) The words themselves. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ F. ] In France, a name for a woman who is supported by her lovers, and devotes herself to idleness, show, and pleasure; -- so called from the church of Notre Dame de Lorette, in Paris, near which many of them resided. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ From Loreto in Italy. ] (R. C. Ch.) (a) One of an order of nuns founded in 1812 at Loretto, in Kentucky. The members of the order (called also Sisters of Loretto, or Friends of Mary at the Foot of the Cross) devote themselves to the cause of education and the care of destitute orphans, their labors being chiefly confined to the western United States. (b) A Loreto nun. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

{ or . [ From Loreto, a city in Italy famous for its Holy House, said to be that in which Jesus lived, brought by angels from Nazareth. ] (R. C. Ch.) Members of a congregation of nuns founded by Mrs. Mary Teresa Ball, near Dublin, Ireland, in 1822, and now spread over Ireland, India, Canada, and the United States. The nuns are called also Ladies of Loreto. They are engaged in teaching girls. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ It., dim. of opera. ] (Mus.) A short, light, musical drama. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. See Pockmarked. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F., dim. of poudre dust, powder. See Powder. ] A manure made from night soil, dried and mixed with charcoal, gypsum, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a pretty manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality or state of being pretty; -- used sometimes in a disparaging sense. [ 1913 Webster ]

A style . . . without sententious pretension or antithetical prettiness. Jeffrey. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Compar. Prettier superl. Prettiest. ] [ OE. prati, AS. prættig, prætig, crafty, sly, akin to præt, prætt, deceit, trickery, Icel. prettugr tricky, prettr a trick; probably fr. Latin, perhaps through Celtic; cf. W. praith act, deed, practice, LL. practica execution, practice, plot. See Practice. ] 1. Pleasing by delicacy or grace; attracting, but not striking or impressing; of a pleasing and attractive form a color; having slight or diminutive beauty; neat or elegant without elevation or grandeur; pleasingly, but not grandly, conceived or expressed; as, a pretty face; a pretty flower; a pretty poem. [ 1913 Webster ]

This is the prettiest lowborn lass that ever
Ran on the greensward. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Moderately large; considerable; as, he had saved a pretty fortune. “Wavering a pretty while.” Evelyn. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Affectedly nice; foppish; -- used in an ill sense. [ 1913 Webster ]

The pretty gentleman is the most complaisant in the world. Spectator. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Mean; despicable; contemptible; -- used ironically; as, a pretty trick; a pretty fellow. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Stout; strong and brave; intrepid; valiant. [ Scot. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

[ He ] observed they were pretty men, meaning not handsome. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Elegant; neat; fine. See Handsome. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In some degree; moderately; considerably; rather; almost; -- less emphatic than very; as, I am pretty sure of the fact; pretty cold weather. [ 1913 Webster ]

Pretty plainly professes himself a sincere Christian. Atterbury. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Somewhat pretty. Walpole. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Affectation of a pretty style, manner, etc. [ R. ] Ed. Rev. [ 1913 Webster ]